Bri S.
Yelp
PET OWNERS please read: I want to begin by saying this review involves a toxic flower that caused my cat to be hospitalized for two nights (thus far). When I called to let the owner of the flower shop know what happened he said he already knew that this plant was toxic to cats and dogs. Overall, I offered a very simple solution that would likely help prevent any given number of animals from experiencing serious health problems including irreversible kidney damage and death, but the owner seemed very dismissive and basically let me know that he was unwilling to help. The following will describe what happened.
Last week some friends bought me an arrangement from Gilly Flowers. It was a beautiful arrangement and none of us knew at the time, but lilies pose a serious safety threat to both cats and dogs. They are specifically very dangerous for cats and can cause kidney failure and death. Eating the leaves, stems, petals, drinking their water, or even simply being exposed to their pollen can cause irreversible damage to the kidneys. I know this because yesterday I had to take my one and half year old, otherwise healthy, cat into the emergency hospital as she had been lethargic and drooling for several hours. When I noticed that she was unresponsive and not able to fully open her eyes or move, I knew that something was wrong. I had seen her nibble at the lilies in the morning but had no idea at the time that they were toxic.
She is now being hospitalized for 48 hours while her kidneys are monitored and flushed with IV fluid. I called the owner this morning to let him know because I did think that he should at least know and be aware of this, assuming he wasn't and that he might want to put up a flyer alerting potential customers who are pet-owners. There are several flyers that alert people of the danger of lilies to house pets and some even offer alternatives to other flowers that aren't toxic to pets. When I called the owner I began by telling him that I was not blaming him for what happened, but that I did want him to know that I had to take my cat to the ER for lily toxicosis. I spent over $2,000 and I am uncertain what is going to happen to her. The owner told me that he was already aware that lilies are toxic to pets and he said that his shop is very cat and dog friendly and that when people ask about a plant being toxic he tells them. I told him that I don't think many people would even think to ask about the safety of a lily though, as many people have no idea that lilies are toxic to pets. I then asked if maybe he would be willing to put up a flyer or have a flyer at the checkout to help bring about awareness to potential dog and cat owners who likely have no idea of this danger. He was opposed to it and said that most people know that lilies are toxic to pets. He said this twice during the conversation. This is not the case though. I told him that this is not something most people know. Last night and this morning I talked with several friends, colleagues, and even a cat shelter owner- people who have been cat owners for over 30-40 years- and not a single one of them knew this about lilies. I asked the owner why he would be so against simply putting a flyer up when this flyer could potentially save many lives and one of his responses was that if he had a sign not everyone would read it. I said yes it's true that not everyone would read it, but some certainly would. And I would argue that even one to two customers a week reading a sign and choosing to go with a less toxic option, could make a difference in this world and actually save lives. I know this for a fact because my two friends that bought this bouquet for me are also pet owners. They happened to buy the same exact arrangement for themselves and they were shocked upon finding this out. After telling them what happened, they threw their bouquet away too and if they had known this, they would have opted for something else from the shop. This whole thing is really perplexing to me as my cat ended up in the ER in a life threatening condition, because of a flower that was sold at this man's shop and although I never blamed him, I was shocked at the lack of concern. If I were the owner of this shop and found out that one of my flowers was poisonous to cats, I would at minimum feel bad about the situation and furthermore I wouldn't want this to happen again to any of my customers. Although I couldn't be sure which customers were pet owners or not, to be safe, I would put up a flyer indicating that certain flowers are poisonous to cats and dogs. A notice that's free and something very simple to do that could save lives. And what's most interesting to me, is how an owner whose shop is supposedly dog and cat friendly would be so opposed to doing this. I can't understand it. I am hopeful that my cat will make it through this alive.
